My dad will always be remembered as one of discriminating taste and who wanted to find the very best that life had to offer so that he could share the experience with those whom he loved. Though he never physically took me on a trip to his childhood homes of Schuylerville, NY or Somerville, MA he spoke like a true historian attempting to preserve the memories of those who had passed.
By the time I was born, the construction scene in New England was dissolving, which required him to spend a great deal of time away from home, but he always managed to make it home in time for special occasions, attempting to make up for lost time.
To me, he was a master at what he did. Seeing the multiple projects that he oversaw transform from the point of breaking ground to full fruition, always left me in a state of wonder and still does. From The Breakers Hotel in Galveston to International Place in Boston to The Paramount Condos in Reston, VA to the Auto Auction Center in Chicago then to Miami, then to San Antonio, then to… (The Pentagon) there are so many buildings which exist in part due to his leadership and ability to get the job done.
With me, he enjoyed music (The Beach Boys, Neil Diamond - even taking me to see the Go-Gos), sports (seeing the Celtics every time they came to Houston - reflecting back to the days of Bob Cousy), and movies (boy could we put away the popcorn and Cokes.) From Pinwheel cookies to circus peanuts to Chocolate covered Hostess Donuts and Brigham Hot Fudge Sauce, I felt at times that he was a big kid by my side, but at the same time never forgetting he was my in-charge dad. He expected me to go to church, use best manners, write thank you notes, and not outstay a welcome.
Thanks to him, I have a greater appreciation and scope of the world; traveling with him to many of the cities mentioned above to see him in action, as well as our whirlwind trip to Australia. I am so glad that he continued his many journies with Katherine to Greece. She brought new hope to his life when he needed it the most.
He had an entrepreneur’s mind seeing either new uses for something or trying ways to make things better. Though he might have always had this skill, I think he truly developed it when times got tough. He never gave up… he was a fighter.
He was always there for me and my family (from my shows to my wedding to my UNCW graduation to the birth of both boys, and their birthdays). In my mind and heart, he always will be there. There will never be a day that I don't think of him and wish that I could show him how much I love him and how sorry I am for all he had to undergo.
